Author/Authors :
Yaghmaeian، Kamyar نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Khosravi Mashizi، Reza نويسنده 1Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Nasseri، Simin نويسنده 1Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Mahvi، Amir Hossein نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health; National Institute of Health Research; Center for Solid Waste Research, Institute fo , , Alimohammadi، Mahmood نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Nazmara، Shahrokh نويسنده 1Center for Environmental Research and Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,
Abstract :
Background: Mercury is considered as a toxic heavy metal in aquatic environments due to accumulation in bodies
of living organisms. Exposure to mercury may lead to different toxic effects in humans including damages to
kidneys and nervous system.
Materials and methods: Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were selected as sorbent to remove mercury
from aqueous solution using batch technique. ICP instrument was used to determine the amount of mercury in
solution. Moreover, pH, contact time and initial concentration of mercury were studied to determine the influence
of these parameters on the adsorption conditions.
Results: Results indicate that the adsorption strongly depended on pH and the best pH for adsorption is about 7. The
rate of adsorption process initially was rapid but it was gradually reduced with increasing of contact time and reached
the equilibrium after 120 min. In addition, more than 85 % of initial concentration of 0.1 mg/l was removed at 0.5 g/l
concentration of sorbent and contact time of 120 min. Meanwhile, the adsorption process followed the pseudo secondorder
model and the adsorption isotherms could be described by both the Freundlich and the Langmuir models.
Conclusion: This study showed that MWCNTs can effectively remove inorganic mercury from aqueous solutions as
adsorbent.
